Farm Crew Member - Job Description

Located on the backside of the Big Sur Santa Lucia mountain range, tucked onto a loamy shelf of Oak studded savannahs and fertile soil, 10 minutes away from the quaint Carmel Valley Village is an upstart organic farm looking for crew members to assist in the next phases of growth. Over the last 3 years during the pandemic we have transformed a blank canvas of a horse ranch into a highly diverse farm, orchard, ranch, and garden space. We have been working towards setting up the core infrastructure and diversity of programs and now we are looking for the most passionate, focused, thoughtful, and hard-working individuals to join our team as farm crew members. We will be growing the healthiest and most delicious produce possible in the world with organic and regenerative growing methods and we need experienced team members who are used to having dirt under their nails.

We offer year round employment, competitive pay starting at $24/hr., and a generous benefits package. This position is Mon - Fri, 7:00am - 3:30pm. The Farm Crew Members will report to and work closely with the Farm Manager for the collaborative success of the farm to achieve its goals. The farm’s goals are primarily two fold:

To produce a large diversity of high-quality, organically grown, clean, nutrient-dense foods and other farm products to meet the ongoing demands of the property owners and future farm clientele.
To maintain a beautiful ranch and farm property. Not only are we creating amazing products, but we are creating a cultivated ecology and farm campus that celebrates natural aesthetics and life cycles.

Our farm cultivates a diverse variety of crops including vegetables, flowers, fruits, olives, mushrooms, eggs, value-added products, and also has a diversity of livestock. We grow within a variety of different methods, from bio-intensive, well manicured market garden beds, to diverse sprawling perennial food forests with tractor cultivated ally crops between the young orchard rows. We are in the process of obtaining several certifications and developing an onsite processing kitchen, greenhouse, mechanical shop, and wash pack facility. With our worm bins, static aerated compost piles, and windrow compost management, we strive to provide a rich diversity of soil biology. Above ground we continue the promotion of biodiversity through extensive hedgerows, owl boxes, beetle banks, raptor perches, and a menagerie of perennial production plants. The farm crew members are relied upon to execute a variety of detail oriented tasks that ensure the achievement of the farm's goals mentioned above. Growing vegetables at the market garden scale with a focus on quality is of the utmost importance and candidates with this type of direct experience are highly encouraged to apply.

All employees must exercise good judgment and discretion in handling confidential matters as the farm is also home to several residents. The position requires high-energy, excellent communication skills and the ability to keep up with a busy and diverse schedule. He/she will honor and uphold the privacy of the property owners and property residences, and must be honest and act with integrity. This role requires the ability to work independently as well as part of a tight-knit team.

Responsibilities & Duties:

seed starting, planting, fertilizing, pruning, training, hoeing, weeding, and transplanting of crops
harvesting and inspecting of crops by hand
processing, washing, packing, and delivering of produce and farm products in a manner to ensure it meets farm’s standards
irrigation repairs
moving of plants, soil, compost and other materials with wheelbarrows, etc.
running errands as necessary to support the team
helping out with the overall upkeep and presentation of the ranch
performing basic ranch maintenance tasks and simple repairs
assisting with the care of the farm livestock as needed
assisting with food preparation and preservation efforts as needed
participate in all required meetings in order to create a safe and coordinated work environment

Requirements:

minimum 3 years experience in professional farming or professional gardening
familiar with organic production methods and a basic knowledge of plants
capable of working in a fast-paced outdoor environment
have a valid driver’s license
capable of physical labor in all weather
able to comfortably lift 40 lbs
bilingual (Spanish and English) preferred

Benefits:

Paid vacation starting at 15 days per year and paid sick leave
Matching 401k up to 6%
Medical, Dental, and Vision, insurance for entire family
Life Insurance
Daily farm lunches provided
End of year bonus
11 paid holidays per year
Uniforms and laundry services provided

The position requires the ability to work with constant deadlines and changing priorities while maintaining a calm demeanor and holding the ability to gracefully accept direct feedback. If you are excited about the prospect of this position, please submit a cover letter and resume to carmelvalleyfarmcrew@gmail.com

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